Research Specialist I (Immunology - Bapat Lab)

Location: Salt Lake City, UT. Full-time, 40 hours/week, day shift, on-site with variable schedule based on lab needs. Department: Pathology (00247). Pay range: $27,194 – $52,706 annually. Anticipated start: January 2027.

About the role

The Bapat Lab in the Department of Pathology investigates how the immune system regulates tissue physiology, inflammation, and disease, with particular emphasis on immunometabolism, tissue immune memory, and cancer immunology. We seek a motivated Research Specialist I to support experimental studies using mouse models, primary immune cell cultures, and molecular and cellular immunology approaches. The successful candidate will participate in the execution of in vivo and in vitro experiments, including mouse colony management, tissue processing, immune cell isolation, flow cytometry, and molecular assays. Responsibilities also include maintaining accurate experimental records, organizing and analyzing data, and contributing to the overall scientific and operational activities of the laboratory. The position provides opportunities to develop expertise in advanced experimental immunology and contribute to ongoing research projects.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in vivo experiments using mouse models of inflammation, obesity, and cancer, including animal handling, experimental treatments, sample collection, and tissue harvesting under approved protocols.
• Maintain and manage genetically modified mouse colonies, including breeding, genotyping, colony records, and coordination of experimental cohorts.
• Isolate and process primary cells from mouse tissues, including skin, adipose tissue, lymphoid organs, and tumors, for downstream cellular and molecular analyses.
• Perform primary immune cell culture, in vitro stimulation assays, and other cell-based experiments using established protocols.
• Prepare samples and perform immunological assays, including multicolor flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and molecular biology techniques.
• Assist in preparing samples for genomic and transcriptomic analyses, including bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing and other high-dimensional profiling methods.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and document experimental results; maintain accurate laboratory notebooks and electronic research records.
• Support laboratory operations, including reagent preparation, inventory management, equipment maintenance, and compliance with institutional biosafety and animal research requirements.
• Participate in laboratory meetings, experimental discussions, and collaborative research activities.

Work Environment

• Nearly Continuously: Laboratory environment.
• Often: Exposure to animals.

Physical Requirements

• Nearly Continuously: Hearing, listening, talking.
• Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing and pipetting), walking, standing, sitting.
• Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.

Qualifications

Equivalency: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (e.g., bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

• Research Specialist I: Requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalency) plus 2 years of directly related work experience, or a master’s degree (or equivalency).

Preferences

• Prior research experience in immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, or a related biomedical discipline.
• Hands-on experience working with laboratory mice, including animal handling, breeding, genotyping, injections, and tissue collection.
• Experience with primary mammalian cell isolation and culture, particularly immune cells.
• Familiarity with multicolor flow cytometry, sample preparation, and basic analysis of flow cytometry data.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including PCR, quantitative PCR, RNA isolation, and preparation of biological samples for sequencing.
• Experience with mouse models of inflammation, metabolic disease, or cancer.
• Strong organizational skills, careful experimental documentation, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple experiments.
• Ability to work both independently under established protocols and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment.

Pay

Annual pay range: $27,194 – $52,706.

Schedule

On site, 40 hours per week, variable schedule based on needs of lab.